Nexthop AI, the company building the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure for cloud companies, launched from stealth today with $110 million in funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Additional investors include Kleiner Perkins, WestBridge Capital, Battery Ventures and Emergent Ventures.
The funding will be used to accelerate the development of Nexthop AI’s networking solutions for cloud and hyperscale AI clusters.
“Hyperscalers need the ecosystem to innovate with them to accelerate their infrastructure deployments. Nexthop AI is a force multiplier, as it partners with and works as an extension of the cloud companies’ engineering teams. This disruptive model enables cloud companies to build the most cost and power-efficient AI solutions,” said Anshul Sadana, CEO of Nexthop AI.
“The world’s largest cloud providers need a new generation of networking capabilities to keep pace with the demands of AI workloads. Nexthop AI is filling a critical gap in this $35 billion market with its deep domain expertise, pioneering technology and customized solutions, positioning the company as the go-to partner for leading cloud providers, seeking to seize the AI revolution,” said Guru Chahal, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Founded in 2024 by Anshul Sadana, Nexthop AI specializes in building custom networking solutions for hyperscalers, which integrate seamlessly into their optimized cloud stack. This includes building networking hardware designed to each customer’s specifications, a network operating system of their choice hardened by Nexthop AI, and pre-tested optical and electrical interconnects from the customer’s diverse supply chain.
Nexthop AI’s sophisticated products, working seamlessly with open source Network Operating Systems, such as SONiC, provide the agility and customization needed by the hyperscalers.
